OSFR board member Joanne Tremblay has sent the following information about the important water-saving issue of landscaping. Water usage in North Florida is in a crisis yet unrealized by many, including those whose decisions govern our water policies. Our decision-makers on water usage have the obligation to inform themselves of the water situation in Florida, and far too many of them have failed, not even tried or think they are experts just because they own agricultural land.
This is the sleeping dragon yet to awaken.
Changing our mindset regarding green lawns vs native vegetation which has evolved into our local environment is a huge step toward unnecessary groundwater use.
Thanks to Joanne Tremblay, Stacie Greco and Dr. Gail Hansen for their work on this.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
The future of Landscaping
As we become increasingly aware of population growth in North Florida and more developments are approved, it’s not hard to see how our valuable drinking water will be used for irrigation. Our Santa Fe River, Inc., has been exploring landscaping alternatives to reduce the impact to our aquifer and to homeowner cost.
Though many have the expectation that lawns are the key to home landscapes, their high water needs and expense can be a financial burden to homeowners. OSFR recognizes the impact irrigation and fertilizers have on our dying springs. We want to learn how homeowners and developers can help by reducing their impact through landscaping choices.
To this end, OSFR recently toured UF’s Environmental Horticulture research project led by Dr Gail Hansen. Here they conducted a complete cost and time analysis encompassing installation, maintenance, and water usage of traditional turf vs landscapes with native plants. Their four year study found close to 80% savings in water usage in the configurations containing less turf.
One key finding found by both UF’s Environmental Horticulture department and Stacie Greco, the Water Resources Program Manager for Alachua County EPD, is that ALL irrigation systems use more water than watering by hand-held hose. Those using reclaimed water tended to be heavier users because the metered cost of reclaimed water was much lower. Whether the water is pulled directly from the aquifer or reclaimed from treatment, the days of cheap water are closing fast. Population growth in Florida is prompting Dr. Hansen along with Stacie Greco to recommend an irrigation-free future using Florida-Friendly landscaping design: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP396
OSFR continued our journey to the community of Madera in Gainesville. Using Low Impact Development (LID)
principles, Madera landscapes promote a natural growth approach allowing the ecology of the area to be undisturbed. (This approach follows an ecological approach to landscaping.) Ecological landscaping honors the value of natural ecosystems, ecological design, and ecological practices. In other words, a developer, rather than clearcutting an area to build a home and retrofitting the landscape, the home is built within the existing landscape, allowing the property to exist unmolested. The resulting landscape requires very little effort to maintain.
Our Santa Fe River, Inc is committed to exploring these sound practices to save our river and aquifer. Go to our website to see the many links we have added to help you in your choice of water conserving landscape practices.
The following are shots of native plants in the UF gardens in Gainesville.
